title: Physical exercise is associated with better fat mass distribution and lower insulin resistance in spinal cord injured individuals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to compare total and regional body composition and their relationship with glucose homeostasis in physically active and non-active individuals with cervical spinal cord injury (c-SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals with lesion level between C5-C7 were divided into two groups: physically active (PA; n = 14; who practiced physical exercise for at least 3 months, three times per week or more, minimum of 150 minutes/week): and non-physically active (N-PA n = 8). Total fat mass (t-FM) and regional fat mass (r-FM) were assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Fasting plasma insulin (FPI) was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PA group present lower (P < 0.01) total fat mass (t-FM), % and kg, regional fat mass (r-FM), % and kg, FPI levels and HOMA index, while they had higher (P < 0.001) total free fat mass (t-FFM), %, and regional free fat mass (r-FFM), %, compared to the N-PA group. In the N-PA group, FPI and HOMA index were negatively (P < 0.05) correlated with FFM% (r = -0.71, -0.69, respectively) and positively correlated to trunk-FM (r = 0.71, 0.69, respectively) and trunk-FM:t-FM (kg) ratio (r = 0.83, 0.79, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical exercise is associated with lower t-FM, r-FM, and insulin resistance, which could contribute to the decrease of the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic conditions in individuals with c-SCI.
authors.forename: Giselle Louise C
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: D'Oliveira
authors.forename: Flávia A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: Magna Cottini Fonseca
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Passos
authors.forename: Amina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chain
authors.forename: Flávia F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Bezerra
authors.forename: Josely Correa
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Koury
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin
keywords: Cervical injury; Insulin; Physical activity; Regional fat mass